Brazil’s ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, serving a 27-year prison sentence for an attempted coup, received permission on December 19, 2025, to undergo hernia surgery. The date of the procedure has yet to be disclosed. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes approved the far-right leader’s temporary release following confirmation by federal police doctors of the necessity for the surgery. Bolsonaro suffers from a hernia affecting both groins, causing him significant discomfort. The former President, in office from 2019 to 2022, has undergone multiple surgeries since being stabbed in 2018. Despite overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial and sentencing, Justice De Moraes rejected Bolsonaro’s plea for house arrest post-surgery. Currently held in Brasilia’s federal police headquarters, Bolsonaro has no contact with other inmates, having a private room equipped with essentials, such as air conditioning, TV, and a desk. While he can see his doctors and lawyers freely, visitor access requires Supreme Court approval. Convicted alongside allies for attempting to overthrow Brazilian democracy post-2022 election loss, Bolsonaro was found guilty of plotting against key political figures and orchestrating an insurrection. Charges include leading a criminal organization and destabilizing the rule of law, all of which Bolsonaro vehemently denies.